By George Bukenya
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Monica Musenero has pointed out the Engineering sub-sector to play a critical role in shaping the world’s economies through solving the growing global challenges.
While addressing reporters at the launch of the 11th UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and the 9th African Engineering Conference at Uganda Media Center on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, Dr. Musenero portrayed Engineering as a core solution for the ever increasing world challenges.
In this era of rapidly growing changes and complex global challenges, it’s engineering that provides the basis for sustainable solutions,’ she explained.
The Minister also noted that engineering sub-sector forms the backbone of what she referred to as a robust Science, Technology and Innovation that is core to Uganda’s vision of achieving Social Economic transformation by 20240.
“ As you may be cognizant, Science, Technology and Innovation together with ICT and the creative industry has been strategically put at the for front as the primary engine of Uganda’s tenfold growth strategy,’’ she asserted, re-echoing the country’s target of achieving overall GDP growth of USD 500 billion by 20240.
The UNESCO Africa Engineering Week and Conference will occur from September 14th to 20th, 2025 under the Theme, “ Leveraging Engineering Innovations and Technology to Accelerate Africa’s Social-Economic Transformation’’.
According to Eng. Bosco Lepi the President, Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers (UIPE), the theme was drawn to reflect the pivot role of engineering in advancing Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“ We need to look for solutions geared towards ensuring what of interest and value to our local population in Uganda, Africa and globally,’’ Eng. Lepi said.
“ This is an opportunity for Uganda’s Engineering sub-sector to showcase the progress made and it will act as an inspiration and a tool to show Ugandans that we can also do what foreign engineers are doing,’’ he explained.
He asserted that according to the recent research under taken by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation revealed that 80% of the products in the market are a result of Engineering.
While the President of the Federation of Africa Engineering Organization (FAEO) Refilwe Buthelezi said, “ As engineering professionals, we ought to ask ourselves: what is our contribution to our continent’s social-economic transformation? “
The week-long conference according to Eng. Lepi is expected to attract more than 1,000 engineering professionals, researchers, policymakers, academia, innovators and youth leaders from across the continent and beyond and it will take place at Munyonyo Speak Resort.